Many players cite an old injury as a reason not to work out at the Combine.

Penn State's D'Anton Lynn is hoping that a disappointing performance at the Combine will be disregarded by scouts due to the fact that he was attempting to compete with a torn calf, at least according to a report from ESPN.

The 6-0, 206-pound Lynn was clocked at 4.77 seconds in the 40-yard dash -- the slowest time recorded by any defensive back at the Combine this year. Though he participated in the bench press (17 reps) and jumps (31.5 inches in the vertical and 111 inches in the broad jump), Lynn elected not to participate in any of the other timed events at the Combine after running the 40-yard dash.
According to the report, Lynn had planned to warm up and then decide whether to participate in drills based on how the calf felt. The injury was sustained during Penn State's TicketCity Bowl loss to Houston. Lynn elected to play through the injury at the Senior Bowl. He was beaten badly there, at times, any may have been wiser to take care of the injury immediately following the end of Penn State's season.

As it stands, Lynn is expected to miss four to six weeks recovering from the injury. This will keep him from running at Penn State's Pro Day March 14, though he's hopeful to work out prior to the draft.

Considering the lack of speed and coverage ability he showed at the Senior Bowl and Combine, it may not matter if scouts were impressed with Lynn's grit in attempting to compete in drills -- only that he failed to do so at a high level when he had the opportunity. Lynn is rated as NFLDraftScout.com's No. 32 cornerback for the 2012 draft.